Message from the Manse

Easter Letter from the Manse

Carrickfergus Methodist Church

March 2024

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has

ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold

firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high

priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,

but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just

as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s

throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive

mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

— Hebrews 4: 14-16

Dear Church Family,

Have you ever heard someone say, “God never gives you more than you can bear”? That

expression is NOT in the Bible! As we look around at our church family at the things many of us

are currently going through, some of our brothers and sisters have more on their shoulders than

they can bear alone. It’s very important for us all to remember these days: we were never meant

to bear our burdens alone! God gave us Jesus, and He gave us each other, and He wants us to

depend on Him and each other, not try to bear our burdens alone!

As this Easter season approaches, we as a church cannot help but recognize the suffering and

grief within our community of faith, and this is a time when we need to reach out and support

each other more than ever before. So many among us are sick or have recently lost loved ones.

As a church, we mourn together for those we have lost, and we pray for our sick.

As followers of Christ, we should ever endeavor to be more Christlike. We want to emulate our

Saviour, who wept when his friend Lazarus died, who identifies with our weaknesses. Jesus

understands what we’re going through, and He loves us! Because of His sacrifice for us on the

cross, we can be one with Him. In His sacrificial death and resurrection which we celebrate on

Easter Sunday, He overcame sin and death! Because of the work He finished on the cross, we

can hold to the promise that we will again see our loved ones in Him. They are now in that place

He is preparing for us, where there is no more suffering!

The Lord is truly risen, and He is with us today. Our prayer is that you will recognize His

presence as he walks with you through whatever you are currently going through in your life,

and that you will be filled with so much joy that it overflows from you and impacts all those

around you. This is why we love our neighbors: because of His love in us that fills us so

completely. It isn’t something we can do in our own strength; it is His work in us through the

power of His Holy Spirit. Our neighbors need the hope of Christ, and God can use each one of us

to share this hope if we only depend on Him as He walks with us.

God’s Easter blessings are peace, joy, strength and comfort. Whenever your life feels particularly

difficult, remember that Jesus loves you so much that He laid down his life for you. He keeps his

promises; therefore, you have help and hope in Him. Let’s thank God for His forgiveness and

salvation, and for walking in relationship with us.

May the JOY of the Lord be your strength, the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts, and the

LOVE of God direct you all of your days.

Edem, Pam, and Etornam

HOLY WEEK EVENTS:

Palm Sunday, 24 March, 11:00 a.m. Carrickfergus Methodist Church

Monday, 25 March, 8:00 p.m. Church of the Nazarene

Tuesday, 26 March, 8:00 p.m. Joymount Presbyterian

Wednesday, 27 March, 8:00 p.m. Carrickfergus Methodist Church

Maundy Thursday,

28 March, 8:00 p.m.

St. Nicholas’ Church

[observing Holy Communion]

Good Friday, 29 March, 8:00 p.m. Woodlands Presbyterian

Saturday, 30 March [time TBD] Children’s Event, details TBD

Easter Sunday, 31 March, 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service at Carrickfergus Castle

Easter Breakfast [immediately

following the sunrise service]

St. Nicholas’ Church

Easter Sunday, 31 March, 11:00 a.m. Carrickfergus Methodist Church